The Colorado Department of Wildlife says a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than be attacked by a mountain lion, but chances are the long odds were of little comfort to Kyra Kopenstonsky Monday as she hiked along the Coltrains Trail in San Miguel County.

As she walked, the Placerville resident found herself being shadowed by a lion that she estimated at about three feet long. Despite following the protocol for such situations — grabbing a big stick, raising up in an attempt to look big, even singing — the cat persisted in following her.

“We’re using the mountains a lot more than we have in the past and when you get off the main path, you’re almost in the wilderness, which means we’re probably going to run into them,” said San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters. “There are a lot of mountain lions in the area; most people probably don’t see them…they’re being stalked but they don’t know it because they’re not paying attention.”

Kopenstonsky certainly noticed, at one point, according to Masters, even calling a friend to say that if she didn’t come home it was because she had been eaten by her unwelcome shadow.

The friend called 911at about 4:45 p.m. and Masters and six deputies headed out to the trail. Moving towards Kopenstonsky’s location, they were met by the woman — the mountain lion had moved off, effectively ending the 20-minute ordeal.

Masters said Monday’s incident was just the second case of mountain lion stalking reported to his office in 34 years. Besides the methods employed by Kopenstonsky, according to the Department of Wildlife, hikers in areas suspected of perhaps housing mountain lions should also not approach the cats. In addition, they should face the lion, trying to stay calm. If the lion becomes aggressive, wave your arms, shout and throw objects at it and if it attacks, fight back.